in Depth

Red Sea Dynamics

The Red Sea has always been the site of power plays amongst countries vying for its control. From the ancient Egyptian expeditions to Punt land, to the Romans who established its role as an important artery for trade with the East. And today, beneath its calm and pristine turquoise waters, it remains in constant flux as its regional players and those from outside compete for a chance to secure their interests. The strategic artery can be both a beacon of peace or a catalyst for destruction. We look at its ever-changing dynamics in this exclusive series.

Article 1/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 1

Article 1/9

Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan…Conflict or cooperation in the Red Sea? Over the next three weeks, ‘The Africa Report’ will publish a series of articles by independent experts on the political and security dynamics facing ...

Article 2/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 2

Article 2/9

Ports, military bases and treaties: Who’s who in the Red Sea The Red Sea is governed by an alphabet soup of international agreements and peppered with dozens of strategic ports and military bases. To help you na...

Article 3/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 3

Article 3/9

The Red Sea: ‘A vital artery for the world economy’ Ten years ago the Red Sea was a backwater at the centre of the world. Today there is no place in the world with a greater and more complex involvement...

NEWimageSeries11_TAR_732x419 © People visit the Red Sea beachfront, in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Article 4/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 4

Article 4/9

The Horn of Africa and the Gulf: Shifting power plays in the Red Sea The Gulf has the resources and the authority; the Horn the geography, the land, and the population. Everyone sees the asymmetries that push the comple...

NEWimageSeries11_TAR(4)_732x419 © Fishermen sail on a boat at the fishing port of the Red Sea city of Hodeida, Yemen March 14, 2018. REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad

Article 5/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 5

Article 5/9

Yemen: What happens here sends waves all across the Red Sea The Houthi movement seized Yemen’s capital Sana’a and overthrew the government half a decade ago. Today, the ongoing conflict is creating a political,...

imageSeries11_TAR_732x419part6 © A fisherman carries his catch in front of buildings, destroyed during a war, in Hamarweyne district near a fishing port in Mogadishu, Somalia September 14, 2018 REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Article 6/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 6

Article 6/9

Somalia: Caught in the middle of a deeply divided region Somalia is an onlooker of a significant portion of maritime trade that makes its way to and from Europe. It is a gatekeeper for the Red Sea, a region ...

imageSeries11_TAR_732x419part10 © Saudi-backed forces, part of Ahmed al-Kawkabani’s, southern resistance unit in Hodeida, ride in their vehicle, in Hodeida, Yemen on Wednesday, May 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Article 7/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 7

Article 7/9

To avoid another Yemen, the Red Sea needs fresh governance The Red Sea is a magnet for international and regional powers. And who governs the sea, governs one of the most valuable trade routes feeding and fuel...

imageSeries11_TAR_732x419part8 © A general view of old Suakin in the Red Sea state. REUTERS/Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Files

Article 8/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 8

Article 8/9

Sudan – Red Sea basin: Four ways to make or break stability Following Sudan’s revolution over a year ago, a peace agreement has been signed and political changes are taking shape with increasing speed. But atte...

imageSeries11_TAR_732x419part9 © A general view of the Suez Canal is seen from Al Salam “Peace” bridge on the Ismalia desert road before the opening ceremony of the New Suez Canal, in Egypt, August 6, 2015. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Article 9/9

Red Sea Dynamics: part 9

Article 9/9

The Red Sea: A magnet for outside powers vying for its control The overriding concern of non-regional actors in the Red Sea arena is freedom of navigation through the Suez Canal, Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb, and Gulf o...

The In Depth Collection